Fulfill your God-given destiny

It cost Jesus Christ His life on the cross to ensure that God’s destiny for our lives is freely available to anyone. 16041423

Last week we introduced the discussion on fulfilling our God-given destinies.

We learned that there are three things you need to know if you want to get started on this: Know that you have a God-given destiny, know that your destiny can be life-changing and know that your destiny keeps you motivated.

Today we will discuss the last two points.

Second, you need to know that my destiny can be life-changing. Scriptures tell us that before the foundation of the world you were on God’s mind. Genesis 1.26 says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; ….’” The Bible teaches us that our destiny has already been established by God .

I don’t decide my destiny I merely discover it and work towards it. I don’t make my destiny happen, I just have to choose to take the path that God has prearranged and made ready for me to take.

Ephesians 2.10 (Amplified) says, “For we are God’s (own) handiwork, recreated in Christ Jesus (born anew) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time), that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live).”

You may be asking, “If God has prearranged my path in life, how come being a Christian can be so difficult, and sometimes, downright discouraging?”

The easy answer to that is, because you are not following God’s manual of instructions – the Bible. But there are other reasons that are personal that prevents you from pursuing your God-given destiny: first, you are not really concerned with your destiny, so you are more likely to give it little thought.

Second, you think that you already have the information you need to realise your destiny. As a result you are not motivated enough to seek more information. Third, you won’t take time to get the information you need to pursue your destiny.

We’ve heard it said so many times, whatever is foremost in your mind is what you will be drawn to, and whatever is least on your mind will most likely be put to the backburner.

You’re not going to do anything about your destiny. Fourth, you’re still looking for the easy way out to fulfil your destiny (there isn’t one). It will cost you your time, your energy, and maybe your money. It cost Jesus Christ His life on the cross to ensure that God’s destiny for our lives is freely available to anyone.

The Bible is very clear that God’s desire for all believers is for you to walk along the path of “good works” that He has prearranged. That means a requirement for you and I to choose to change our thought patterns, change our attitudes, change our ways, change our perceptions towards every area in our life.

Now, it is very easy to say that we are doing it, but there has to be an outward expression of those changes, and who better to tell you than those people who are closest to you.

Of course many of us don’t like our spouses, or anyone else for that matter, telling us that our present attitude is taking us down the wrong path.

I think every believer need to remind himself/herself that, “My name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life before God created the earth.

Therefore, I can get up each morning and say: ‘This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice because I have a destiny. And I will make sure that I work towards that end the whole day’.”

Think about it: Whatever happens to the economy, God has a plan for your life.

Whatever happens in government, God has a plan for your life. Whatever is happening around you, God has a plan for your life. Getting started on the road to fulfilling my destiny means I have to know that I have a God-given destiny, I have to know that my destiny can be life-changing and ...

Thirdly, I need to know that my destiny keeps me motivated.

Whatever happens in the natural realm, God saw it and He knew it, and planned a great life for you. Knowing you have a destiny in life can help you keep going, it can help you stay motivated. In the New Testament book of Philippians 3.12-14, the Apostle Paul said: “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Knowing that he had a God-given destiny motivated the Apostle Paul to keep going even in the face of adversity and discouragement.

Let’s take a look at Paul’s negative experiences: He was stoned and left for dead outside the town of Listra. He was on a ship caught in the middle of a storm, the ship broke up and he floated to shore on a board. He was thrown in prison at Philippi and set free by an earthquake. He was beaten with rods until he was near death. But finally, having preached the gospel throughout the then known world, Paul said, “Now, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. I am ready to be offered up for my Lord.” (2 Timothy 4.6-7).

Let me ask some pointed questions: What negative experiences are you going through at this moment?

What are the things that are distracting you from moving forward towards your God-given destiny?

The Gospel of Mark tells the story of the demon-possessed man healed and delivered by Jesus. In Mark 5.19, Jesus said to the man: “Go home to your friends, and tell them what good things the Lord has done for you, and how he has had compassion on you.” And the man did.

Friends, God wants to show compassion towards every one of us. He wants to heal and deliver us. God wants to bring us into our right mind. God wants to bring us into the joyful and blessed life that living out our God-given destiny brings. However, the starting point must be, you must choose to have a personal relationship with God through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Outside of that relationship, you will find it rather difficult to discover and pursue God’s plan and purpose for your life. Let me leave this thought with you: God is never far from you, but it is your moment-by-moment choices in life that keep you distant from him.

Jesus said this in the Gospel of John chapter 14.6, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”